Meantime other matters were engaging their attention. When the new stables had been erected on the land purchased at the south corner of South York Street and Govan Street a considerable portion of the ground—more than half indeed—remained unbuilt on, and early in 1902 the educational committee of the Society came forward with the recommendation that in any further building which might be erected a hall which could be used for educational purposes should be included. The committee also were desirous that the Society should have a hall of their own, and later in the same year the architects were instructed to prepare plans for the utilisation of this vacant land which should include halls and accommodation for the headquarters of the purvey department. At the quarterly meeting in March 1903 power was given to proceed with the erection of the buildings. These were to consist of five halls, containing accommodation for from 200 to 1,500 people, with the necessary siderooms, etc., and with ample accommodation for the purvey department. Permission was also given for the erection of three tenements of dwellinghouses, with shops on the ground floor; the total cost to be from £14,000 to £15,000 for the halls and purvey department buildings, and £6,400 for the tenements. Eleven months passed, however, before the building of the halls was begun, and they were not completed until 1906. Toward the end of 1903 the Paisley Road tearooms were destroyed by fire, and in restoring them the committee decided to add another storey. The landlord agreed to bear a proportion of the cost, and on the reconstruction being completed they were named the “Wheatsheaf” tearooms. MR M‘CULLOCH RETIRES. For several years the chairman had been desirous of retiring, but had been induced to remain in office until the schemes on which he had set his heart—the erection of Clydebank and Belfast branches—were well on the way. In 1904, however, he definitely decided to end his official connection with the Society. For fifteen years he had acted as president. He was first appointed to the board by his society in June 1888, and had continued to act on the board until his retiral. Mr Daniel H. Gerrard was elected president in succession to Mr M‘Culloch. For a short time he had represented St George Society on the board prior to his election, while the active part which he had taken, as a member of the Scottish Sectional Board, in combating the boycott in the later “’nineties” and his position as chairman of St George Society had made him well known to the majority of Scottish Co-operators. AN AMALGAMATION PROPOSAL.